Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-06-23
EVERYBODY'S FAULT.


house, Long Branch. were these:
If it is possible for me to come
down tomorrow evening | will tele-
graph sometime during the day; but if
you don't hear from me you will know
that | intend to wait until Saturday.
| | don't know how it was, but all
that day felt worried, particularly as
the hours dragged along anil the teie-
gram l expected never came. Toward
evening began, however, to comfort
myself with the thought that Satur-
dav would soon arrive, and by 8
o'clock | was out with a party Of
friends on the green in front of the
hotel, listening to the orchestra.
This is Mr.. Eustace,' said Fred, my
brother-in-l law, "a friend from New
York. and | looked up to find d hand
some and intelligent looking man.
who, to Judge from appearances had
come down to the sea shore to be we'll
entertained.
so John hasn't come down YETI
asked Fred. well. suppose bust
ness is pressing. Perhaps, Eustace,
you would like to take walk on the
beach. Eh, Kate?
I was feeling 20 lonesome at the
time that | Didn't think was doing
anything wrong to walk on tle beach
with Fred's friend, even ii was en-
gage1. So off we started over the
sand under the light of a partially hid
moon. 1t was a night to make love
in; even the breeze seemed woolng,
but it made me sad, for it brought my
thoughts back to John again. My
companion noticed l was preoccupied
and said, gaily:
Come, this will never do! | make
it point, Miss Harris to nurse the
sentiments only so long as 1t contri-
butes to my peace of mind, invariably
striking my colors at the first symp-
toms of melancholy. Why, there is
tug at my heart-strings this very mo-
ment. ...
l tried TO reply, but a strangely
familiar step behind me attracted my
attention. Mr.. Eustace continued, ap-
parenuly unaware of my nervousness,
and still dreamily:
Il am sometimes half inclined to be-
lieve, though, that an occasional sen
sation of this kind serves to assist in
the establishment Of ones spiritual
equilibrium, and
Just then the moon emerged from
its hiding place; the step which had
brought my heart with quick bump
to nv throat rapidly passed us; deep,
hard but well-known voice, said:
Good evening, Miss Harris, and for
brief second my eyes met John
Macomber's. My hand must have
trembled, for my companion looked
down into my face with an expression
of deep solicitude as he said:
Excuse me, Miss Harris, but what
has alarmed you? Surely not the
gentleman who has just shot past us
with such velocity? Would you like
TO return noW9
If you please, answered, striv-
ing in vain to keep my voice steady.
| never knew what that man thought
of me-never cared much, it is true
and never comprehended how | reach
ed the hotel or whether the farce of
conversation was kept up or not. |
had but one thought, and that one
John.
There was no sleep for me that
night. The next morning | made
Fred promise that he would call at
Johns Office during the day and tell
him how | came to be walking with
his friend. l sent him note also--a
queer kind of composition think 1t
must have been, for | was almost
crazed.
'Oh, how long that day seemed!
but the shades Of evening descended,
after hours of unutterable misery. and
Fred arrived.
There, now, said he soothingly, for
heavens sake don't take on any more.
l haven't seen John, although l called
at his office three times. Ills head
clerk thought he would not be In
much before o'clock, and had to
leave town before could see him, and
now dress yourself and come down to
tea, like good girl. Whatever l die,
Kate, l would not come the love-sick.
That is role entirely out of your line,
and immensely unbecomlng.''
| agreed with him, and quietly de-
cided that my relatives should never
again be troubled with any grief of
mine, condemned poor Fred as a cross,
unsympathizlng brute, made tasteful
toilet, and stole quietly out of the
hotel, determined to at least enjoy the
| privilege of solitude, ifnothing more
/ think must have walked miles, and
at last chanced upon spot entirely
deserted.
I realized that it was late to be so
long distance alone from the hotel
| but this situation was so comfortable